The empty-eyed man didn't say a word as Alex sank into his second layer of meditation. He focused on the rise and fall of his chest. And, as time started to slip by, he became increasingly aware of the tingling energy floating in the air above him.
It was surprisingly easy for him to will the energy to move. It transformed into a streamer and swirled through his mind at his command before returning to its original spot.
"Don't play with it. Form it," the dour-faced man said.
Alex's eye twitched and he nearly lost his sense of peace. Fortunately, meditation seemed far easier than it ever had before the System had arrived. It wasn't like he had all that much experience doing it back in school.
I bet it helps a lot that I'm literally already in my mind. A lot of meditation is supposed to be connecting the mind and body. That bit's done.
He increased his attention on the mist, trying to wrap it up with his mind. He felt it tremble and start to condense, but large swathes of mist swirled out from his mental hands and curled into the air.
Alex focused on the bits of smoke that he had gathered and didn't waste any attention on the bits that swirled back to rejoin the sphere. His lips pressed thin as he pushed the energy in on itself like he was wringing the life out of a lemon.
A single droplet of brilliant blue energy dropped from the sky and splashed into the bottom of the basin. A shiver of energy raced through Alex and he drew in a sharp breath. His eyes snapped open.
He rose to his feet. The droplet rested in the basin, just like he knew it would have — and yet, his eyes had been closed.
How did I see anything?
"You are inside your own mind," the man said dryly. "Anything that happens in this space is known to you, should you have the awareness to perceive it."
"Don't tell me you can read my mind."
"Only what you physically show me." The guide gestured to the empty black lake around them. "Which is nothing. Now complete your task so that I may finish mine."
Alex looked up at the ball of energy. He'd barely put a dent into it. A grimace crossed his lips and he sat back down, refocusing himself.
This is going to take a while.
***
Alex didn't actually know how much time had passed when he finally squeezed the last droplet of energy into his basin. He'd lost count of the droplets as well, but when he rose to check on what his labors had reaped him, he found that the basin had barely been filled. The amount of energy within it felt pitiful at best.
"Okay. I did it."
"So you did," the eyeless man said. "Now use it."
"I'd be thrilled to if I actually knew how," Alex said, a note of exasperation entering his tone. "Trust me, I don't want to be wasting time here. I'm sitting around surrounded by a bunch of creepy monsters waiting to rip my throat out. I need power."
"Your attempt to wring information from me that the System did not give you is clever, but I was not born yesterday," the man said with a sigh. "I will not humor you any further. I will grant no inspiration."
"What, you think I'm lying? Why would I lie?" Alex asked, throwing his hands up. "Just tell me exactly what the System told you, then. That wouldn't give me any inspiration or whatever. I just want to get the shit that everyone else got."
The man's eyes narrowed. "You are committed to this. Did you truly not get guidance from the System?"
"Be honest with yourself. Does it look like I'm enjoying this? I want to get to the fun bit, and you're in the way."
To his surprise, a smirk passed over the man's face. "That is quite apparent. Very well. Perhaps you are an apt liar, but you have my curiosity. I will retract my words and oblige this request. Drink from the basin and let the energy in your mind merge with your body. You are Novice 1, so you have yet to reveal all of your Auxiliary Skills yet. You have two more."
"Which I get at 2 and 3."
"I am in the presence of an untold genius."
Alex bit back a snarky remark. "So I only ever get three Auxiliary Skills?"
"And a human only ever gets 5 senses." The man tilted his head from side to side. "It would be apt to say you get three pathways, and each one is endlessly versatile. Can a sword do nothing but cut? There are an endless number of movements and blade techniques that can be learned and mastered. Your abilities are no different. The initial Auxiliary Skills are nothing but a single step onto a path. A hint at the power that lies beyond. I would advise you to look to the future when choosing and envision what may be, not what is. Their potential is limitless, but only if you can advance far enough to grasp it."
"What about my Soul Manifestation?" Alex pressed his luck with just one more question.
The worst that could happen was that he would be told to get lost. It didn't seem like he could leave, after all. A flicker of irritation passed over the eyeless man's features, but he blew out a sigh.
"It is the core of both you and your class. Your Soul Manifestation advances with every full Stage you complete, though its true strength depends on your Mind Palace. If you make it to the Third stage, your Manifestation will evolve into a domain. And before you ask — the first six stages are Novice, Initiate, Adept, Expert, Master and Grandmaster. You can figure the upper ranks out if you make it that far. Now—"
"Wait. Just one more. Please."
///Author's Note///
Read up to Chapter 85 on my Patre on!
Patre on.com/Actus
Please vote with power stones if you enjoy the story, it helps me a lot!